Yes, had a busy day in the area.

We tried to find a place to board the pupster for several hours while in Philadelphia. It was not to be. When we drove around the areas close by the sites we wanted to see, I wasn't sure I wanted to leave the pupster after all. She did well in her stroller, all zipped up to not be disturbed by the people, nor disturb the people. They let her in the Independence Hall courtyard (outdoors), through security, just not in the buildings. We made quite a few people chuckle that day. A gentleman from Kentucky (farmer, I believe) offered to watch her while we went in to see the Liberty Bell. R declined, he knows I have trust issues.

Pennsylvania is wonderful. The beauty of Pennsylvania surprises me every time I visit.

It's pretty amazing to stand in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where the United States Constitution was written. History seeps from the walls and permeates the room. It's a little overwhelming.

Definitely.

Because my own little pupster will be riding shot-gun, I'm wondering if you have any doggie-to-doggie advive? It's her first long trip, but she enjoys car travel.

Our pupster loves to travel and has been on many long road trips. Because we got her when we lived in FL and traveled back and forth a lot, we think she thinks the car and I-75 are her second home.

She has always been a great traveler, but as she gets older she doesn't seem to travel as well. She had some problems on this trip and we aren't quite sure what caused it, but it may have been stress. We haven't been on a long trip with her in a couple of years, and maybe she got out of shape for it, or maybe she's just getting older.

Anyway, her symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea and trouble controlling her bladder. I read that all of these could be symptoms of stress and/or anxiety. We cut back on her food and paid her a lot of attention and made sure she had plenty of walks and driving breaks. This made her better. We also started giving her bottled water instead of hotel water (which we wouldn't even drink).

Here are my suggestions, the Mrs. will probably have others...

- Make sure all shots are current. Take proof of vaccinations with you.

- Get any prescriptions refilled before you go and take them with you. Consider taking some imodium (for diarrhea) and benadryl (for allergic reactions to bee stings and such). We keep benadryl in the car all the time. Check with your vet for proper dosage for puppy's size and weight.

- Take plenty of pupster's regular food and treats. Don't feed her any people/junk food.

- We made up a little puppy info sheet with all the relevant info about feeding, walking, allergies, medications, and contact info for us, relatives, and her vet. If we board her during the day (we didn't this time) we make sure the boarder has all this info. If you have to board her, even for a few hours, they will require proof of vaccinations.

- If you have a crate puppy likes, take it if you have room for it. At least take puppy's bed or some blankets/towels with puppy's and your smell on them. This will help reduce stress and anxiety and provide a "safe place".

- Make time for plenty of walks. You need to stop about every two hours at least for a puppy break.

- Make sure puppy has plenty of water, like at every stop.

- Give puppy a good cleaning/grooming after puppy breaks or at least daily. Some of the spots she "goes" while on the road are pretty nasty, especially at rest stops where lots of pets go. Disease, worms, and other nasty stuff can easily get spread that way.

- Check for ticks daily, and especially right after walking in woods. (I even got one on this trip.)

- Be careful when opening your car and don't leave your car door open so puppy doesn't see a squirrel or something and jump out and run after it. Never, ever tie puppy's leash to a vehicle, even for a minute.

- Holiday Inn and La Quinta are the most reliably pet friendly hotels. (Although there aren't many La Quintas once you get North.)

- Always keep puppy on a leash except inside your hotel room or your car.

- Always clean up after puppy. People who don't will discourage hotels from allowing pets.

Did you break it, or was it already busted when you got there?

I think they would break anyone who tried to touch it!

I'm always surprised at the awe I feel when I'm in the presence of such things...And I'm such a hardass otherwise.

I remember looking at the "GW" carved in the wall under the Natural Bridge in Virginia and feeling that "wow" feeling at something so simple as graffitti by George Washington, himself.

I remember looking at the "GW" carved in the wall under the Natural Bridge

We saw that on the way back from a previous trip to DC. Had the same feeling.

For the pupster we also take:

Tweezers for removing ticks and a vet provided antiseptic to put on the spot after removal.

Grooming supplies, if used. We take her brush and comb.

Towels. We take three towels for her and have one or two additonal towels in the car (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy).

We take a can of See-Spot-Go, or some other product to clean up if there are any accidents.

Toys. We usually take two toys.

Water and food dishes.

Sweater if your dog is not used to the cold and you are going somewhere cold. And, in our case, she hates the rain.

Our pupster has her own suitcase, crate, and stroller. She has just about as much stuff as we do. Can you tell we don't have children?